Oval-tracked exercise apparatus

ABSTRACT

An oval-tracked exercise apparatus is provided which includes a main frame having a pair of connecting arms in a hinge joint with a traverse support. The traverse support is coupled with a mechanical system in a pivotal connection with a pair of planks. A resisting rotating mechanism is attached to an opposing end of the respective plank. Besides, an adjusting assembly is provided for adjusting the height of the traverse support. The resisting rotating mechanism formed by a flywheel, a belt wheel or a resistance mechanism includes a continually bent crank and is rotatably mounted on side walls of a base of the resisting rotating mechanism. Accordingly, both handles are synchronically movable with respective planks for simulating a climbing action and an oval exercise track. Moreover, a simulation of a movement on uphill, downhill and flat surfaces can be achieved. Furthermore, a reduction of the distance between both planks is also attainable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Fields of the Invention

The invention relates to an oval-tracked exercise apparatus, and moreparticularly, to an apparatus in which both handles is synchronicallymovable with respective planks for simulating a climbing action and anoval exercise track. Moreover, a simulation of a movement on uphill,downhill and flat surfaces can be achieved as well. Furthermore, areduction of the distance between both planks is attainable.

2. Description of the Related Art

People work for what they need. Meanwhile, they realize how importanttheir health is. Therefore, they do exercise for keeping their bodies ingood condition. The simplest way to exercise is the use of the exerciseapparatuses. Among the exercise apparatuses, the oval-tracked exerciseapparatus can best simulate the actual walking exercise. U.S. Pat. No.3,315,898 (“Rehabilitation & Exercise Apparatus”) teaches that a motorimparts motion to two treadle bars through a belt-driven toothed platesuch that the treadle bars move in an offset position. However, it lacksmeans for keeping the body in balance. Therefore, the operator easilyfalls from the exercise apparatus due to the instability of his centerof gravity.

Another prior art—U.S. Pat. No. 5,242,343 (“Stationary ExerciseDevice”)—teaches that two rocker arms are pivotably connected to thebase. The bottom of each rocker arm and the front end of the treadlebars are joined to each other in a movable state. The other end of thetreadle bars is attached to the side of the flywheel. Both of thetreadles are alternatingly treaded to simulate the movement of hands andfeet in an oval track. Meanwhile, both rocker arms move in alternatingway to aid the operator in keeping their bodies in balance.

Since the hands of the operators are synchronically movable with therocker arms to perform the arched, reciprocating motion, this doesn'tcorrespond to the actual coordinating movement of hands and feet duringwalking session. Due to the non-ergonomic design, the muscle functioncould be deteriorated, thereby causing the abnormality of the balancesense.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a primary object of the invention is to provide an oval-trackedexercise apparatus in which both handles is synchronically movable withrespective planks for simulating a climbing action and an oval exercisetrack.

Another object of the invention is to provide an oval-tracked exerciseapparatus that allows a simulation of a movement on uphill, downhill andflat surfaces

A further object of the invention is to provide an oval-tracked exerciseapparatus that ensures a reduction of the distance between both planks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accomplishment of this and other objects of the invention willbecome apparent from the following description and its accompanyingdrawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of an oval-tracked exerciseapparatus of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a second embodiment of the oval-trackedexercise apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view of FIG. 2 with a driving end situated at thelowest end of a resisting rotating mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a side view of FIG. 2 with a driving end situated at therightmost end of the resisting rotating mechanism;

FIG. 5 is a side view of FIG. 2 with a driving end situated at thetopmost end of the resisting rotating mechanism;

FIG. 6 is a cutaway view of the resisting rotating mechanism; and

FIG. 7 is a cutaway view of another embodiment of the resisting rotatingmechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, a main frame 10 of the present invention has aconnecting arm 12 that creates a hinge joint with a traverse support 13.Two auxiliary rods 21 and two pivoting rods 22 are pivotally supportedon the traverse support 13. Further, a bottom end of the auxiliary rods21 is pivoted on a rear end of a connecting member 14 of a plank 11while a coupled arm 23 is pivoted on a front end of the connectingmember 14. Thereafter, a distal end of two swing rods 24 is coupled toanother end of the coupled arm 23. A middle part of the swing rod 24 isrotatably supported on a free end of the pivoting rod 22. In this way,the auxiliary rods 21 and the swing rods 24 can be assembled to be acomplete mechanical system 20.

A treadle 15 is fixed on each of the planks 11. Besides, the plank 11includes a driving end 16 formed opposite to the connecting member 14.The driving ends 16 of both planks 11 are located on opposing sides of aphantom diameter of a resisting rotating mechanism 40. While an operatortreads with his feet on both planks 11 in an alternating up-and-downmotion, the resisting rotating mechanism 40 will be driven in rotation.Meanwhile, the connecting members 14 of both planks impart motion to thecoupled arms 23 that then drives the swing rods 24 to move in analternating succession. Accordingly, the mechanical system 20 is broughtinto a synchronic alternating swing motion within an area enclosed by aradius of the length of the pivoting rods 22 around a center of thetraverse support 13. Thus, the operator can hold both handles 25 on thetop of the swing rods 24 to simulate climbing action. Since the treadles15 on the planks 11 restricted by the resisting rotating mechanism 40moves in an oval track, the exercise apparatus is called “oval-trackedexercise apparatus”.

The exercise apparatus includes a hinge joint of the traverse support 13of the main frame 10 with the mechanical system 20 and a hinge joint ofthe planks 11 with the resisting rotating mechanism 40. As theconnecting arms 12 between the traverse support 13 and the main frame 10are rigidly affixed, the exercise apparatus is therefore named astationary type exercise apparatus. The exercise apparatus shown inFIGS. 2 through 5 is an adjustable type exercise apparatus.

Therefore, the advantages of the aforementioned stationary type exerciseapparatus can be concluded as follows:

-   1. The use of the aforementioned stationary type exercise apparatus    can simulate the climbing action of the hands, unlike that the    conventional rocker arms can only perform single arched swing    action. Therefore, it fulfills the demand on ergonomic effects.-   2. The simulation of the movement of both hands of the operator    during exercise session enables the respective feet to    synchronically move in an oval track for keeping the operator's    health in good condition.

Another oval-tracked exercise apparatus, as shown in FIGS. 2 through 5,is a adjustable type exercise apparatus. Similarly, a connecting arm 12is provided for connecting with a traverse support 13. The traversesupport 13 creates a hinge joint with auxiliary rods 21 and pivotingrods 22 of a mechanical system 20. A bottom end of either auxiliary rod21 is pivoted on one end of a connecting member 14 of a plank 11 while acoupled arm 23 is pivotally connected to the opposing end of theconnecting member 14. The other end of the coupled arm 23 created ahinge joint with a distal end of each of two swing rods 24. The swingrods 24 move in an alternating succession by a hinge joint with a freeend of the pivoting rods 22. Each of the planks 11 has a driving end 16opposite to the connecting member 14 which is rotatably supported on acrank 41.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 through 5 has the substantially sameconfiguration as the embodiment shown in FIG. 1; however, the differencelies in that a supporting seat 31 is provided on the main frame 10 forcreating a hinge joint with the connecting arm 12. Accordingly, themechanical system 20 is produced by the hinge joint of the traversesupport 13 with the connecting arm 12 and by the hinge joint of thetraverse support 13 with the auxiliary rods 21 and the swing rods 24. Inthis way, the mechanical system 20 can be brought into a synchronicalternating swing motion within an area enclosed by a radius of thelength of the connecting arm 12 around a center of the supporting seat31.

The movable feature of the traverse support 13 is created by a push rod32 with one of its ends pivotally connected to the traverse support 13and with its opposing end connected to a motor 33, thereby forming anadjusting assembly 30 for adjusting the height of the traverse support13.

Meanwhile, the invention has the same components that arecorrespondingly disposed at opposing sides. In order to facilitate theillustration of the mechanical relationship among the mechanical system,the planks 11, and the resisting rotating mechanism 40 and to preventunnecessary confusion, they are shown and described with only one sidethereof.

First of all, the driving end 16 of the plank 11, as shown in FIG. 2, islocated at a starting point on a left side of the crank 41 of theresisting rotating mechanism 40. Then, the traverse support 13 isadjusted by the adjusting assembly 30 to a certain height. The plank 11is in an unmoved and hanged state due to the connection of theconnecting member 14 with the mechanical system 20. At that time, theauxiliary rod 21 is movably coupled to the connecting member 14 of theplank 11 such that a distal end of the swing rods 24 is moved to theleftmost point in place under restriction of the pivoting rod 22.Meanwhile, the handle 25 on the top of the swing rods 24 is moved to theright side. Thus, we know that the handle 25 moves in an directionopposite to the direction in which the distal end of the swing rod 24 orthe driving end 16 moves.

When the driving end 16 of the plank 11 is brought by the treading forceof the operator or by an electric motor to a bottom end of the resistingrotating mechanism 40 shown in FIG. 3, the movement of the mechanicalsystem 20 causes the movement of the handle 25 to a topmost point of thewhole oval track.

As shown in FIG. 4, the driving end 16 of the plank 11 is driven to therightmost side of the resisting rotating mechanism 40, and the handle 25is brought by the mechanical system 20 to the leftmost side of the wholeoval track. While the driving end 16 of the plank 11, as shown in FIG.5, is driven to the topmost end of the resisting rotating mechanism 40,the handle 25 is brought by the mechanical system 20 to the lowestposition of the whole oval track. Due to the above-mentionedreciprocating motion, both hands and feet of the operator can simulatedthe climbing and treading motion, respectively, thereby achieving anergonomic effect during the exercise sessions.

In addition to achieving the effects of the stationary type exerciseapparatus, the adjustable type exercise apparatus can employ the motor33 of the adjusting assembly 30 to extend or retract the push rod 32 forchanging the movement position of the treadle 15.

When the push rod 32 is extended by the motor 33, the traverse support13 is upwardly moved counterclockwise under restriction of theconnecting arm 12. Meanwhile, the plank 11 can be raised since theauxiliary rod 21 is coupled with the connecting member 14 on the plank11. When the push rod 32 is retracted by the motor 33, the traversesupport 13 is downwardly moved clockwise. Accordingly, the connectingmember 14 on the plank 11 is lowered. In this way, movement on a uphill,a downhill, or a flat surface can be simulated.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the resisting rotating mechanism 40 adaptedfor the stationary and adjusting type exercise apparatus in accordancewith the invention and rotatably connected with the driving end 16 ofthe plank 11 is a flywheel, a belt wheel, a resistance mechanism, etc.The resisting rotating mechanism 40 includes a base 42 from both sidesof which a side wall 43 is upwardly extended, respectively. Two opposingholes 44 are provided for insertion of a respective bearing. The crank41 has a central part 45 for dividing the crank 41 into twocorresponding crank subsections. Each crank subsection includes a yoke46 having a pivoting part 47 on which the driving end 16 of the plank 11is rotatably mounted. Both distal ends of the crank 41 is respectivelyformed with a connecting member 48 that is inserted through therespective bearing and rotatably received therein.

Based upon the above-mentioned structure, both planks 11 are spacedapart by the length of the central part 45 so that it's not necessaryfor the operator to extend his feet as widely as the shoulder.Accordingly, the walking position can be considerably improved.

In order to make the use of the crank 41 more stable, the base 42, asshown in FIG. 7, further includes a middle wall 50 similarly having ahole 44 for insertion of a bearing on which the central part 45 of thecrank 41 is rotatably supported.

Furthermore, a flywheel, a belt wheel or a resisting apparatus can befitted to both sides of the base 42, as shown in FIG. 6. Alternatively,it can be fitted to only one side thereof, as shown in FIG. 7 while amotor adapted to control rotational speed by an electrical gauge isconnected to the other side of the base 42.

Many changes and modifications in the above-described embodiments of theinvention can, of course, be carried out without departing from thescope thereof. Accordingly, to promote the progress in science and theuseful arts, the invention is disclosed and is intended to be limitedonly by the scope of the appended claims.

1. An oval-tracked exercise apparatus comprising: a) a main frame havinga pair of connecting arms in a hinge joint with a traverse support; b) apair of auxiliary rods and a pair of pivoting rods pivotally supportedon the traverse support, a bottom end of the auxiliary rods each beingpivoted on a rear end of a connecting member, a coupled arm beingpivoted on a front end of each connecting member; c) a pair of swingrods having a distal end coupled to an opposing end of the coupled arm,the swing rods each having a middle part rotatably supported on a freeend of the pivoting rod whereby a complete mechanical system isassembled; and d) a pair of planks having a driving end formed oppositeto the connecting member, the driving ends each being mounted onopposing sides of a phantom diameter of a resisting rotating mechanism;whereby both planks in an alternating up-and-down motion drive therespective swing rod to move in an alternating succession so that theoperator can hold both handles on the top of the swing rods to simulateclimbing action.
 2. The oval-tracked exercise apparatus of claim 1further comprising an adjusting assembly having: a) a pair of supportingseats for joining the respective connecting arm pivotally connected withthe traverse support; b) an electric motor adapted to extend or retracta push rod for adjusting the height of the traverse support; and c) adriving member driven by a motor and installed between the positioningrod and the pivoting member, whereby an adjusting type oval-trackedexercise apparatus can be assembled for simulating movement on a uphill,a downhill, or a flat surface.
 3. The oval-tracked exercise apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein the resisting rotating mechanism comprising: a) a basehaving two side walls extending upwardly from both sides thereof; b) apair of bearings received in two opposing holes of the side walls of thebase; and c) a crank having a central part for dividing the crank intotwo corresponding crank subsections, the subsections each having a yokewith a pivoting part on which the driving end of the plank is rotatablymounted, both distal ends of the crank being respectively formed with aconnecting member that is inserted through the respective bearing androtatably received therein, whereby both planks are spaced apart only bythe length of the central part so that it's not necessary for theoperator to extend his feet as widely as the shoulder
 4. Theoval-tracked exercise apparatus of claim 3 wherein the resistingrotating mechanism further includes a middle wall with a bearing forsupporting the central part of the crank.